Tobacco die clipping collector for individual machine



Dec. 14, 1965 1'. A. GODFREY TOBACCO DIE CLIPPING COLLECTOR FOR INDIVIDUAL MACHINE Filed July 20, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.|

INVENTOR THOMAS A. GODFREY M 25 ATTORNEY Dec. 14, 1965 T. A. GODFREY 3,

TOBACCO DIE CLIPPING COLLECTOR FOR INDIVIDUAL MACHINE Filed July 20, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR THOMAS A.GODFREY ya a; 2 04..

ATTORNEY Dec. 14, 1965 1-. A. GODFREY 3,222,957

TOBACCO DIE CLIPPING COLLECTOR FOR INDIVIDUAL MACHINE Filed July 20, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG.3

INVENTOR THOMAS A.GODFREY A'ITORNEY United States Patent Oflice 3,222,967 Patented Dec. 14, 1965 3,222,967 TOBACCO DIE CLIPPING COLLECTOR FOR INDIVIDUAL MACHINE Thomas A. Godfrey, Elmont, N.Y., assignor to American Machine & Foundry Company, a corporation of New Jersey Filed July 20, 1962, Ser. No. 211,358 2 Claims. (Cl. 83-100) This invention is an improved cigar manufacturing machine, particularly an improved cigar binder or cigar wrapper machine in which cigar binders or cigar wrappers are cut either from natural cigar leaf or from reconstituted tobacco web material.

More particularly the invention is an improved scavenging arrangement for removing and collecting the trimmed tobacco material resulting from the cutting of a cigar binder or cigar wrapper.

Arrangements which perform the same general function as is performed by the apparatus of the present invention are well known in the art. One scavenging arrangement, which would serve in the stead of the present invention is a centralized suction scavenging system connected in common to a battery of cigar binder or wrapper die cutting machines. In a centralized system suction is applied from a common source to the trimming areas of each of a number of binder or wrapper cutting machines, which may comprise, for instance, from 3 or 4 to 20 or 30 such machines. Suction machinery adequate for such installations understandably becomes relatively expensive when applied to a single machine 'or to a small installation comprising 2 or 3 or 4 such machines. Recently a demand has developed for small installations which may have but one or a few machines. Under these circumstances, it is desirable to supplant the common centralized scavenging system with a relatively less expensive arrangement which ideally might be attached to a single machine. The present invention is devised to care for this demand;

An object of the present invention is the improvement of cigar manufacturing machines for cutting cigar binders or cigar wrappers.

Another object of the invention is an improved scavenging mechanism incorporated in a cigar binder or cigar wrapper cutting machine.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an individual tobacco trim scavenging mechanism for a cigar binder or cigar wrapper cutting machine.

The mechanism of the present invention comprises a source of suction which is applied individually to each cigar hinder or cigar Wrapper cutting machine to remove the trim resulting from the cutting operation from the cutting area. An individual container is interposed in the suction channel. The trimmings collected from the die by the application of suction to the trimming area are trapped in the individual container. The container is fitted with a displaceable bottom element, which is disposed over a larger second container. Once per cycle of operation of the binder or wrapper cutting machine, the displaceable element is actuated to permit the tobacco trim, collected by the suction applied to the die, to drop into the larger container. The displaceable element is cam controlled through a linkage which is operated at the proper time in each cycle to coordinate it with the other operations in the cycle. The scavenging mechanism comprises also a valve controlled by a cam on the common drive shaft of the machine which controls the application of suction and cut off at the proper time.

It is particularly pointed out that when a common centralized scavenging system is employed, quite a high vacuum is used in order to insure the gathering of all of the tobacco trimmings from all of the machines, some of which may be located at a considerable distance from the common suction source. Under such circumstances, the suction applied to the various machines differs and the rate at which the clippings are drawn into the scavenging system varies. It is desirable to be able to reuse the tobacco clippings as part of the core or filler material in other cigars, and it is desirable that the cuttings should not be unnecessarily mutilated or further divided in the scavenging process. In the common centralized scavenging system the trim obtained from certain of the machines where the suction is greatest, and the rate at which it is drawn into the suction system and its velocity therein is excessively high, becomes so divided that it is relatively unsuitable for its intended further use. In the present arrangement since the scavenging systerm is individual to each machine, these factors can be controlled and the product resulting from the trimming operation can be collected in a more suitable condition for further use.

A feature of the invention is an individual container interposed in the scavenging suction system of a cigar binder or cigar wrapper cutting machine and controls therefor to trap the tobacco trim resulting from each cycle of operation of the cutting machine.

Another feature of the invention is a tobacco trim container interposed in a scavenging suction system, individual to a cigar binder or cigar wrapper cutting machine, in which the container comprises a displaceable dumping element which is actuable from the common power drive system of the machine at a predetermined period in each cutting cycle.

These and other features will become apparent from a consideration of the following description when read with reference to the associated drawings which disclose a preferred embodiment in which the invention is presently incorporated. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific arrangements shown herein but may be practiced through the use of other means which will be readily suggested by the present disclosure to those skilled in the art.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a left side elevation, partly in section, of the machine of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation thereof, partly in section;

FIG. 3 is a plan view thereof; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged elevation, partly in section, of a portion of FIG. 1.

Refer now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

A number of units comprising the machine such as the double die turret 20 and its associated controls, the cutter slide 36 and cutter rollers 34 and 32 attached thereto are well known in the art and will be described herein only insofar as it is necessary to understand the manner in which they cooperate with the new mechanism of the invention.

The machine applies a piece of tobacco leaf or reconstituted tobacco over the front die and suction head 22 and its adjacent die shell 24. Suction is applied to the suction head and its associated shell to hold the tobacco in position. The turret 20 is then rotated about shaft 26 through 180 degrees, so that die and suction head 22 and die shell 24 assume the position originally occupied by back die and suction head 28 and die shell 30. The cutter slide 36 carrying the cutting rollers 32 and 34 is then reciprocated over the die 22 in its rear position by means of a linkage comprising arm 38 and lever 40. Lever 40 is cam operated through a limited arc, about hub 42 mounted on shaft 44. Shaft 44 is journalled in two hearings in two brackets secured to opposite sides of the machine, only one of which brackets, bracket 45, which is secured by means'of screws, such as 47, to the vertical frame element 54, is shown. Secured to the lever 40 is a follower 46 which engages in a cam track 48 of barrel cam 50 which is fixedly mounted on shaft 52. Shaft 52 is secured in bearings, not shown, in the main frame of the cigar machine and is driven from the main drive thereof, not shown. As shaft 52 and cam 50 rotate, cam track 48 reciprocates follower 46 in a limited arc, rotating lever 40 about shaft 44. This, in turn, actuates arm 38, reciprocating cutter slide 36 and driving cutting rollers 34 and 32 back and forth across the top of the die 22, presently assumed to be in the rear position in the turret, to sever a wrapper or a binder from the tobacco piece afixed to the suction head. Thereafter, the cooperating wrapper carrier mechanism, not shown, is actuated into position overlying the cut wrapper. Suction is removed from the suction head underlying the cut wrapper and applied to the wrapper carrier which thereupon picks up the cut wrapper and carries it to a cigar wrapping device. All of these mechanisms are well known in the art.

A scavenger head 60 is connected through an air hose 64 which is supported in a vertical bracket 66, secured by means of screws 67 to the horizontal bed plate 56 of the machine. Air hose 64 connects to the top of a suction box 68, which serves as a trap for the tobacco trim. Box 68 is connected by air hose 70 to another suction box 72. Both boxes 68 and 72 are supported by brackets secured to base plate 56. Suction box 72 is connected by means of suction pipe 76 to a main source of suction, not shown. Suction box 72 is provided with suction valve 78. The suction valve 78 is connected by means of a rod 80 to a link 82 which is fixedly secured to the stud 84. Stud84 is freely rotatable in a limited arc in a bracket 85. Bracket 85 is integral with suction box 72. Secured to the right-hand end of shaft 84, as seen in FIG. 2, is arm 86 carrying follower 88 which engages with the periphery of cam 90 secured to shaft 92. Shaft 92 is driven by the main shaft of the machine, not shown. As shaft 92 rotates, cam 90 actuates follower 88, rocking arm 86, shaft 84 and arm 82. This reciprocates rod 80 and suction valve 78 vertically. Arm 82 is biased clockwise, as seen in FIG. 1, by spring 83 which is tensioned between the arm and stud 87 secured to the frame of the machine.

The operation of the suction valve 78 is so timed that suction is applied through air hose 70, suction trap 68 and air hose 64 to scavenger head 60 each time turret 20 is rotated after a cutting operation has been performed. Simultaneously, suction is removed from the suction head 22 and die shell 30 associated with the die from which the wrapper has just been severed. As the turret 20 rotates, the scavenger head 60 picks up the severed trim. The severed trim passes through air hose 64 and into box 68. It is prevented from passage to air hose 70 by the interposition of a screen 94, which is secured by screws, such as 96, in position to prevent egress through hose 70. Each time a portion of trim is trapped in box 68, a door 100 covering the bottom of box 68 is opened to permit the trim to drop into a larger container 98 which is positioned directly below box 68. How this is performed will now be described.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, hub 42 mounted on shaft 44 carries a projecting lug 102. Secured in lug 102 is a stud 104. Stud 104 is displaceable in an elongated slot 106 in one arm 108 of a bell crank limitedly rotatable on shaft 44. The other arm 110 of the bell crank, is connected at its free end to the lower end of rod 112, the upper end of which is connected to the free end of arm 114. The lower end of rod 114 is fixedly secured to an axle 116, which in turn, is afiixed to hinge arms 118 and 120 secured to the bottom of door 100. As heretofore mentioned, as follower 46 is actuated in cam track 48 and lever 40 is limitedly rotated, hub 42 rotates limitedly about shaft 44. Projecting lug 102, which is integral with hub 42, actuates stud 104 to displace it in elongated slot 106. Arm 108 is biased upwardly by spring rod 122 which is tensioned between boss 124 on base plate 56 and projection 126 on arm 108. This tends to rotate arm 108 upwardly against stop 111. Stop 111 is secured in lug 113 which is integral with bracket 45. This tends to rotate arm 110 and rod 112 downwardly and to rotate arm 114, axle 116, hinge arms 118 and 120 and door 100 clockwise, as seen in FIG. 1, to maintain the door normally open. The door 100 will, therefore, be in its open position at all times except when stud 104 is in a position near the lower extremity of slot 106 and forces arm 108 downwardly against the tension of spring rod 122.

As hub 42 rotates in a direction to raise stud 104, spring 122 maintains the lower extremity of slot 106 in engagement with stud 104. A relatively short upward movement of stud 104 and of arm 108' will permit door 100 to open. Thereafter, while stud 104 continues to rise and while it is returning downwardly and until it again engages the lower extremity of slot 106 and forces arm 108 downwardly to close door 100, the door will remain open. It should be apparent from this that the scavenger suction system will be in the non-suction condition and door 100 will be open to serve as a chute for the trapped tobacco into the scrap accumulator container 98 during. the larger part of a cycle of operation of the machine.

Attention is particularly called to suction box 68. This forms an individual trap for the scrap trimmed during each cutting cycle. The box 68 serves as an individual collection box for each individual cutting. The screen 94 prevents the trim collected in the isolation box from being drawn into the central suction system through air hose 70. The trim is isolated in the box 68 once for each cutting operation. The dumping door 100 is actuated once for each cutting cycle to direct the trim in the suction trap 68 into the scrap accumulator container 98 which serves as a trim collector.

What is claimed is:

1. A cigar machine having cutting means therein for severing tobacco trim for a cigar binder or wrapper, a scavenger system in said machine for collecting said trim, said system comprising a suction trap individual to said machine, mounted in proximity to said machine, individual dumping means for said trap in said machine, and a scrap accumulator individual to said trap and proximate thereto, means in said system for delivering the total scrap produced in each individual cutting operation to said trap in a corresponding individual scavenging operation, means in said machine, operative once per cutting cycle of said machine subsequent'to each said delivery, for actuating said dumping means, and means responsive to said dumping means for directing scrap from said trap into said accumulator in response to each said dumping.

2. A machine for cutting cigar binders or cigar wrappers, said machine having a binder or wrapper cutter, a suction system individual to said machine, coacting with cutting means during each cycle of operation of said machine in manipulating said binders or wrappers incident to their cutting, a branch of said suction system, individual to said machine, for scavenging tobacco scrap material trimmed from said hinder or wrapper during 5 6 each cutting cycle of said machine, a trap in said scaveng- References Cited by the Examiner ing branch, individual to said machine, for trapping said UNITED STATES PATENTS scrap material, trap discharge control means operative during each cycle of operation of said machine, and after 215 2 et a1 each cut ing operatlon of said machine, for cond1t1on1ng 5 2,960,898 11/1960 Wheeler 83 10D said trap to discharge trapped scrap material and a linkage in said machine, responsive to cam controls therefor in said machine for actuating said trap discharge control WILLIAM DYER Primary Examiner means after each said trapping, to minimize damage to CARL W. TOMLIN, HUNTER C. B RN the trimmed tobacco material. 10 ANDREW R. JUHASZ, Examiners. 

1. A CIGAR MACHINE HAVING CUTTING MEANS THEREIN FOR SEVERING TOBACCO TRIM FOR A CIGAR BINDER OR WRAPPER, A SCAVENGER SYSTEM IN SAID MACHINE FOR COLLECTING SAID TRIM, SAID SYSTEM COMPRISING A SUCTION TRAP INDIVIDUAL TO SAID MACHINE, MOUNTED IN PROXIMITY TO SAID MACHINE, INDIVIDUAL DUMPING MEANS FOR SAID TRAP IN SAID MACHINE, AND A SCRAP ACCUMULATOR INDIVIDUAL TO SAID TRAP AND PROXIMATE THERETO, MEANS IN SAID SYSTEM FOR DELIVERING THE TOTAL SCRAP PRODUCED IN EACH INDIVIDUAL CUTTING OPERATING TO SAID TRAP IN A CORRESPONDING INDIVIDUAL SCAVENGING OPERATION, MEANS IN SAID MACHINE, OPERATIVE ONCE PER CUTTING CYCLE OF SAID MACHINE SUBSEQUENT TO EACH SAID DELIVERY, FOR ACTUATING SAID DUMPING MEANS, AND MEANS RESPONSIVE TO SAID DUMPING MEANS FOR DIRECTING SCRAP 